629 



CHAP. IV. 



CEYLON AS KNOWN TO THE MOORS, GENOESE, AND 

 VENETIANS. 



THE rapid survey of the commerce of India during 

 the middle ages, which it has been necessary to in- 

 troduce into the preceding narrative, will also serve to 

 throw light on a subject hitherto but imperfectly in- 

 vestigated. 



The most remarkable of the many tribes which in- 

 habit Ceylon are the Mahometans, or, as they are 

 generally called on the island, the "Moor-men," ener- 

 getic and industrious communities of whom are found 

 on all parts of the coast, but whose origin, adventures, 

 and arrival are amongst the historical mysteries of 

 Ceylon. 



The meaningless designation of " Moors," applied to 

 them, is the generic term by which it was at one time 

 customary in Europe to describe a Mahometan, from 

 whatsoever country he came, as the word Gentoo 1 

 was formerly applied in England to the inhabitants 

 of Hindustan, without distinction of race. The prac- 

 tice probably originated from the Spaniards having 

 given that name to the followers of the Prophet, who, 

 after traversing Morocco, overran the peninsula in 

 the seventh and eighth centuries. 2 The epithet was 

 borrowed by the Portuguese, who, after their discovery 



1 The practice originated with the 

 Portuguese, who applied to any un- 

 converted native or India the term 

 gentio, " idolater " or " barbarian." 



2 The Spanish word " Moro " and 

 the Portuguese " Mwuro" may be 



traced either to the "Mauri," the 

 ancient people of Mauritania, now 

 Morocco, or to the modern name of 

 "Moghrib," by which the inhabi- 

 tants, the Mognribins, designate their 

 country. 



